Launch of the “IMMUrban” Project in Suceava: Major Support for Social Entrepreneurs and Local Communities

Today, August 8, 2024, the Association of County Patronage of Business Women in Small and Medium Enterprises of Suceava, in partnership with SC AVISSO CONSULTING SERVICES SRL, organized the launch conference for the project “Facilitating Community Investments and Increasing Social Impact through Support Measures for Future Entrepreneurs – IMMUrban!” in Suceava

Among the event participants were Liliana Agheorghicesei, President of the County Patronage of Business Women in SMEs of Suceava and Project Manager; Jeanina Băbuță, Project Manager at SC AVISSO CONSULTING SERVICES SRL Iași; Cristian Șologon, Deputy Prefect of Suceava County; and Luminița Chihai, Vice President of the County Patronage of Business Women in SMEs of Suceava.

Project Objectives

The project aims to increase the participation of at least 140 individuals from various social categories who intend to establish social economy structures in rural areas. Key objectives include supporting the establishment, implementation, and monitoring of 34 social enterprises, thereby generating a minimum of 136 new jobs.

Courses and Professional Training

A key aspect of the project is the development of entrepreneurial and managerial skills among participants. Approximately 140 individuals will benefit from professional training courses in “Social Economy Entrepreneurship,” with an estimated duration of 180 hours. Participants will include vulnerable individuals, women, Roma individuals, and people with disabilities.

Additionally, participants will have the opportunity to attend supplementary courses in areas such as marketing and public procurement, to enhance their knowledge and skills necessary for the social economy sector.

Expected Impact

The project aims to:

– Provide training and certification in social entrepreneurship to at least 127 individuals.
– Offer personalized counseling and funding services for 21 social economy business plans.
– Create 136 jobs within the social enterprises supported by the project.

Implementation Period and Budget:

The project will run from August 1, 2024, to January 31, 2027. The total project value is 14,842,468.41 RON, of which 12,536,670.69 RON are non-repayable funds from ERDF/ESF+/CF/FJ and 2,212,353.65 RON are non-repayable funds from the national budget.

This ambitious project aligns with the European Union’s strategic objectives for promoting social inclusion and developing the social economy, aiming to have a significant positive impact on rural and urban communities in the six targeted regions.

Liliana Agheorghicesei, President of the Association of County Patronage of Business Women in Small and Medium Enterprises of Suceava, emphasized the importance of implementing this project:

“It is very important that these projects are implemented by partners who have extensive experience in consulting for SMEs, writing, and implementing projects. I believe this is a great opportunity, especially considering the 3 million euros available. This is not a small amount of money, and involvement in these projects can bring significant benefits both for personal development and for the community.”

Jeanina Băbuță, Project Manager at SC AVISSO CONSULTING SERVICES SRL Iași, highlighted the rigor required in preparing business plans:

“Regarding the selection criteria, you should know that the analysis and verification of business plans will be conducted by external experts, meaning that even we, the organizers, do not have access to them. It is very important to prepare your business plans with great care, as the review and selection will be carried out by authorized committees who take responsibility for both approved and rejected projects. Therefore, I emphasize once again the importance of accuracy and rigor in preparing these plans.”

Luminița Chihai, Vice President of the County Patronage of Business Women in SMEs of Suceava, stressed the direct impact of the funds on communities:

“I want to highlight that from the total value of these projects, over 100% is directed towards social economy structures, with very little spent on administrative costs. This means that the funds go directly back into the community, contributing to economic and social development. We hope that through these projects we will create around 130 social economy structures and over 1,000 jobs by the end of the implementation.”

A strong message was also conveyed by Cristian Șologon, Deputy Prefect of Suceava County, who emphasized the value of the experience gained through involvement in such projects:

“I speak to you now not only as a representative of an institution but also from the perspective of someone who has written and implemented successful projects. I have somehow structured my career and personal life on the principles I learned from implementing these projects.

Therefore, I recommend each of you to gain at least this initial experience within a project because, beyond the material gains, you will acquire valuable knowledge and experiences that you will use later without realizing it. This experience will help you develop your ability to think strategically and to structure concrete steps to achieve your personal and professional goals.”

This ambitious project aligns with the European Union’s strategic objectives for promoting social inclusion and developing the social economy, having a significant positive impact on both rural and urban communities in the six targeted regions.